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2024 MEAC/SWAC Challenge: What FAMU fans need to know heading into the season opener in Atlanta

Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons, center, leads players onto the field before the Orange Blossom Classic NCAA college football game against Jackson State, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Lynne Sladky
/
AP
Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons, center, leads players onto the field before the Orange Blossom Classic NCAA college football game against Jackson State, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Rattlers will be defending their national title this year.

Football is back and Florida A&M University is set to take on Norfolk State University in the 2024 MEAC/SWAC Challenge for the season opener.

The Rattlers first game will be Saturday, Aug., 24 in Atlanta, Georgia, the same city that hosted the Black College National Championship game the year prior. FAMU won that game, defeating Howard 30-26 in the Celebration Bowl.

First-year FAMU head football coach James Colzie III anticipates Saturday's game to be a back-and-forth bout between two top programs.

“Its going to be their first game as well," Colzie said during last Wednesday's 220 Quarterback Club meeting. "We’re not going to have all of our numbers, percentages, and tendencies. So, you can easily have two teams trying to figure each other out.”

FAMU head coach Willie Simmons celebrates winning the Celebration Bowl. Florida A&M (12-1) capped off its best season in 45 years with a victory in the 2023 Celebration Bowl. FAMU beat Howard 30-26 on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Will Brown
FAMU head coach Willie Simmons celebrates winning the Celebration Bowl. Florida A&M (12-1) capped off its best season in 45 years with a victory in the 2023 Celebration Bowl. FAMU beat Howard 30-26 on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

FAMU last year, (12-1, 8-0) broke many records, both in-school and at the national level. The Rattlers currently hold the second longest home game winning streak in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) at 20 games.

"Obviously getting a chance to start here again as the HBCU reigning national champions. We will have our work cut out for us," Colzie said.

Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State
When: Saturday, Aug. 24, 7:30 P.M.

Where: Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

How to Watch: ABC, the Rattlers Mobile App, WatchESPN, the ESPN app, fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV.

Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.

Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.